Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-07-10

Special to fhe ors0oHiaa.
San FRARcrsco, July 8. - T0-dAy's
ChroaieIs prints (doabls-le adsd) the
following a. an editorial: II is sslf-
explanatory:
ms Chroaiels this mornine dsvotes q
large portion Of la space 10 the pre-
sentation OF afEldavits which conelu-
sively point TO the existeace Of an or
ganixsd system of fraud on the revenue
in the Port Townsend customs district,
or perhaps something worse. The story
Of she AfEidavits. In brief, 10 that II. y.
Beecher, son Of the late Henry Ward
Beccher, vas placed in . responsible
position by Grover Cleveland Ia the
customs district referred 10, after she
United States Senate had refused 10
confirm his appointment % collector,
on the ground that be II. ?. BsecheF)
had misappropriated certain moneys
intrusted 10 him. since his appoint
nent by the President 10 this specially
created ciflce. 10 10 alleged by numerous
persons that BeeoheT has systematically
defraudsd the Government, and 10 one
instance be withheld from 40 infoFmeF
the amount to which he vas justly en-
titled to, and g Ohinaman Vaa paid
small sam 10 set the dummy inioTmsF.
Afidavits are also presented 10 show
that Beecher made false vouchers and
subscribed to them under oath.
Ali the facta this morning we're in
possession Of AbReE Lincoln Blake,
formerly 10 the customs service on tbs
SOana, and who claimed shat be vas
upjustiy charged by BeecheF With GER
tain acts, which accusations he repeatec-
" reqaestsd the Treasury Department
70 investigate. bat without success. In
Nav last Blake started East With she
avowsd intention Of laying all bis
proofs before the Department, aud, In
the event Of failure 10 procure an inves
tiGation, to give the facts TO the press.
He left the coast in good health, and 90
far as known without intending 10 stop
at Chicago. For some reason be was
induced 10 do %, With fatal result 70
himself. In the absence Of fall details,
/ IL can only be stated that Blake While 10
that city met with an accident OF foil
play which resulted In bis death. No
Inquest was held, but Il Is stated there
was evidence Of violence.
The gravity Of these charges cannot
be undeFeslimated. The necessity for
their publication is patent. The Treas
ury Department at washington Tor
| some reason ua1 IEllou 70 tAku sb4H9 "
prove OF disprove the charges made
scainst BeeoheE BY Blake. and sworn 70
bV numerous Trustworthy Witnesses.
The only meihed Of forcing such an In.
vessiRatIon Is full publicity. We ven
tuFe 10 say that there will be no sup
preston from this time on. Not even
over Cleveland will dare 20 retain 10
the ofise created for bin, II. y.
Bsecher-a man rejected by the Senate
Of the United States a. undt 90 bold q
position Of trust. Fhe facta are scan
daious 10 tbe Administration. t1t TO
oondope Beecher's ohensea would bo q
more serious matter THAI a deliberate
attempt 10 override the judgment OF q
bodv that has the conhRm atton OF III.
ecuiive appointments.
OLD AND ALMOST EoR0oTTER.
WAsHrNoroN, Jolv 9-The charges
against Collector Bseehef Published IN
thts mornings dispatches from San
Francisco are regarded at the Treasury
Department 81 q old story. They were
investigated many months ago and die
missed. That the Treasury Depart
ment does not consider BesoheE guilty
81 frauds upon Teyenus is evident BY
the fact that be IL nov employed as a
special agent 10 the ssma district over
which be formerly had charge as Collect.
or. In apeakinR Of the case today Seo-
retary RaiFohild said it was old and a.
roosa foFsUttsn-